Fleetwood vs Arsenal Carabao Cup tie halted by unauthorised drone over pitch

An unauthorised drone brought Fleetwood Town’s Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal to a temporary halt at Highbury Stadium, with referee Michael Salisbury taking the players off the pitch in the eighth minute after the device was spotted hovering above the playing surface.

The match had barely got underway when players from both sides noticed the drone in the sky above the ground. Fleetwood confirmed the aircraft was not recognised or authorised by the club, prompting Salisbury to pause proceedings and consult the ground safety officer and both managers before making his decision.

After discussions, Salisbury opted to clear the pitch entirely. The drone subsequently appeared to fly away from the stadium, allowing play to resume after a delay of around eight minutes.

The incident added an unusual chapter to what was already a significant occasion for League Two side Fleetwood, who were hosting one of English football’s biggest clubs in a cup tie that represented a rare moment in the spotlight for the lower-league outfit.